Rosario Dawson In Stella McCartney

Even Rosario Dawson can't win with this fabric. I don't know why Stella McCartney insists on using this kind of satin, because the only hope of not looking like a wrinkled mess is if you have an assistant following you at all times with a steam iron while you avoid sitting, walking and preferably also breathing.

Rosario is otherwise beautiful and the color is perfect on her. It goes well with her jewelry and flawless makeup, and I admit the top of the dress is pretty and offers just enough drama to not look boring without stealing the show.  I just wish she'd have chosen a designer with a better grasp on reality.

Photos of Rosario Dawson at the Los Angeles premier of Unstoppable: Just Jared

Rosario Dawson In Stella McCartney

Even Rosario Dawson can't win with this fabric. I don't know why Stella McCartney insists on using this kind of satin, because the only hope of not looking like a wrinkled mess is if you have an assistant following you at all times with a steam iron while you avoid sitting, walking and preferably also breathing.

Rosario is otherwise beautiful and the color is perfect on her. It goes well with her jewelry and flawless makeup, and I admit the top of the dress is pretty and offers just enough drama to not look boring without stealing the show.  I just wish she'd have chosen a designer with a better grasp on reality.

Photos of Rosario Dawson at the Los Angeles premier of Unstoppable: Just Jared

Rosario Dawson In Stella McCartney

Even Rosario Dawson can't win with this fabric. I don't know why Stella McCartney insists on using this kind of satin, because the only hope of not looking like a wrinkled mess is if you have an assistant following you at all times with a steam iron while you avoid sitting, walking and preferably also breathing.

Rosario is otherwise beautiful and the color is perfect on her. It goes well with her jewelry and flawless makeup, and I admit the top of the dress is pretty and offers just enough drama to not look boring without stealing the show.  I just wish she'd have chosen a designer with a better grasp on reality.

Photos of Rosario Dawson at the Los Angeles premier of Unstoppable: Just Jared

Stella McCartney- Stella In Two Peony EDT

I can't decide if I like Stella McCartney. She's sort of cool, but I never find anything I actually want in her NYC boutique and there's something about her that says "socialite" more than "artist".  Then again, having Heather Mills as your temporary stepmother should allow for some slack.

I don't enjoy the original Stella, but I understand the appeal despite not being a rose person and disliking the juice that passes as rose in many commercial modern perfumes. Yes, a sheer ambery rose, whatever. I'll layer Tom Ford's Ambre Absolute and Noir de Noir, thank you very much. The various sequels and flankers are a different matter.They often smell half baked, barely blended and lackadaisically conceived.

Stella In Two actually seemed like a more interesting idea- a duo of an eau de toilette and a solid perfume that can be worn alone or together. The solid, Amber, is supposed to supply the deeper base notes while the EDT is light and fresh. Which is probably where trouble begins. The Peony EDT starts with a sharp and chemical blast that smells cheap and unpleasant. It improves when actual perfume notes start to appear- a peppery rose and a somewhat abstract and pale peony. It's nothing like the peony in Annick Goutal's Quel Amour!. The Goutal is here to make a statement, while Stella is all about blending in the background and being as unnoticed as possible.

Stella In Two Peony is bottomless by definition. If you actually want base notes, you need to add the amber. The EDT simply fades into that generic musky faux wood that too many people mistake for perfume nowadays. Is it horrible? No, we've all smelled worse. It's just not worth my skin.

Stella In Two, a 2006 release, is no longer listed on Stella McCartney's website, so I guess it's discontinued. You can find it easily online for $50 and under.

Image: The Wallflower, a1920 Norman Rockwell cover for Life magazine

Stella McCartney- Stella In Two Peony EDT

I can't decide if I like Stella McCartney. She's sort of cool, but I never find anything I actually want in her NYC boutique and there's something about her that says "socialite" more than "artist".  Then again, having Heather Mills as your temporary stepmother should allow for some slack.

I don't enjoy the original Stella, but I understand the appeal despite not being a rose person and disliking the juice that passes as rose in many commercial modern perfumes. Yes, a sheer ambery rose, whatever. I'll layer Tom Ford's Ambre Absolute and Noir de Noir, thank you very much. The various sequels and flankers are a different matter.They often smell half baked, barely blended and lackadaisically conceived.

Stella In Two actually seemed like a more interesting idea- a duo of an eau de toilette and a solid perfume that can be worn alone or together. The solid, Amber, is supposed to supply the deeper base notes while the EDT is light and fresh. Which is probably where trouble begins. The Peony EDT starts with a sharp and chemical blast that smells cheap and unpleasant. It improves when actual perfume notes start to appear- a peppery rose and a somewhat abstract and pale peony. It's nothing like the peony in Annick Goutal's Quel Amour!. The Goutal is here to make a statement, while Stella is all about blending in the background and being as unnoticed as possible.

Stella In Two Peony is bottomless by definition. If you actually want base notes, you need to add the amber. The EDT simply fades into that generic musky faux wood that too many people mistake for perfume nowadays. Is it horrible? No, we've all smelled worse. It's just not worth my skin.

Stella In Two, a 2006 release, is no longer listed on Stella McCartney's website, so I guess it's discontinued. You can find it easily online for $50 and under.

Image: The Wallflower, a1920 Norman Rockwell cover for Life magazine

Stella McCartney- Stella In Two Peony EDT

I can't decide if I like Stella McCartney. She's sort of cool, but I never find anything I actually want in her NYC boutique and there's something about her that says "socialite" more than "artist".  Then again, having Heather Mills as your temporary stepmother should allow for some slack.

I don't enjoy the original Stella, but I understand the appeal despite not being a rose person and disliking the juice that passes as rose in many commercial modern perfumes. Yes, a sheer ambery rose, whatever. I'll layer Tom Ford's Ambre Absolute and Noir de Noir, thank you very much. The various sequels and flankers are a different matter.They often smell half baked, barely blended and lackadaisically conceived.

Stella In Two actually seemed like a more interesting idea- a duo of an eau de toilette and a solid perfume that can be worn alone or together. The solid, Amber, is supposed to supply the deeper base notes while the EDT is light and fresh. Which is probably where trouble begins. The Peony EDT starts with a sharp and chemical blast that smells cheap and unpleasant. It improves when actual perfume notes start to appear- a peppery rose and a somewhat abstract and pale peony. It's nothing like the peony in Annick Goutal's Quel Amour!. The Goutal is here to make a statement, while Stella is all about blending in the background and being as unnoticed as possible.

Stella In Two Peony is bottomless by definition. If you actually want base notes, you need to add the amber. The EDT simply fades into that generic musky faux wood that too many people mistake for perfume nowadays. Is it horrible? No, we've all smelled worse. It's just not worth my skin.

Stella In Two, a 2006 release, is no longer listed on Stella McCartney's website, so I guess it's discontinued. You can find it easily online for $50 and under.

Image: The Wallflower, a1920 Norman Rockwell cover for Life magazine

Stella Nude

I stumbled upon this 1975 photo of a three year old Stella McCartney (taken by photographer Norman Parkinson), who is currently engaged in a legal battle over her right to name her new perfume Stella Nude. Apparently, Bono's wife, Ali Hewson, who runs the Nude skin care line has found her inner Laurice Rahme and is trying to claim ownership of the word Nude(in perfume or in cosmetics?). Is she aware that Bijan and Bill Blass also have perfumes called Nude? And what about Bobbi Brown's Nude Collection?
Will this picture help Stella in court?

photo from ana-lee.livejournal.com

Stella Nude

I stumbled upon this 1975 photo of a three year old Stella McCartney (taken by photographer Norman Parkinson), who is currently engaged in a legal battle over her right to name her new perfume Stella Nude. Apparently, Bono's wife, Ali Hewson, who runs the Nude skin care line has found her inner Laurice Rahme and is trying to claim ownership of the word Nude(in perfume or in cosmetics?). Is she aware that Bijan and Bill Blass also have perfumes called Nude? And what about Bobbi Brown's Nude Collection?
Will this picture help Stella in court?

photo from ana-lee.livejournal.com

Stella Nude

I stumbled upon this 1975 photo of a three year old Stella McCartney (taken by photographer Norman Parkinson), who is currently engaged in a legal battle over her right to name her new perfume Stella Nude. Apparently, Bono's wife, Ali Hewson, who runs the Nude skin care line has found her inner Laurice Rahme and is trying to claim ownership of the word Nude(in perfume or in cosmetics?). Is she aware that Bijan and Bill Blass also have perfumes called Nude? And what about Bobbi Brown's Nude Collection?
Will this picture help Stella in court?

photo from ana-lee.livejournal.com

What Would Arwen Wear?

Liv Tyler makes heavy silvery-smoky eye shadow appear like the prettiest thing ever, and I'm usually not a fan of this look. Since she's the face of Givenchy cosmetics, this might have been done with their Shadow Show in Stylish Grey and Star Diamond (and a good blending brush), but I think it can also be achieved using the Les Argents 46 eye shadow trio from Bourjois. It almost makes me want to try it. Another thing I love about Liv's makeup is the real color of her skin and of her lips. No orange face and weird fake nude lipstick.


Her blue Stella McCartney dress is another matter, though. I don't know if it's the fabric or the cut, but the result is less than flattering. I also don't like the way it hemmed. It's almost like someone did a quick and careless job adjusting the original dress you see below on Stella herself (from the NY Costume Institute party last month) to the shorter length. Not that I liked it all that much on Stella, either.


What do you think?

Images: Liv Tyler at the L.A. premier of The Incredible Hulk from HotCelebsHome, Stella McCartney (with Kate Moss) from Style.com

What Would Arwen Wear?

Liv Tyler makes heavy silvery-smoky eye shadow appear like the prettiest thing ever, and I'm usually not a fan of this look. Since she's the face of Givenchy cosmetics, this might have been done with their Shadow Show in Stylish Grey and Star Diamond (and a good blending brush), but I think it can also be achieved using the Les Argents 46 eye shadow trio from Bourjois. It almost makes me want to try it. Another thing I love about Liv's makeup is the real color of her skin and of her lips. No orange face and weird fake nude lipstick.


Her blue Stella McCartney dress is another matter, though. I don't know if it's the fabric or the cut, but the result is less than flattering. I also don't like the way it hemmed. It's almost like someone did a quick and careless job adjusting the original dress you see below on Stella herself (from the NY Costume Institute party last month) to the shorter length. Not that I liked it all that much on Stella, either.


What do you think?

Images: Liv Tyler at the L.A. premier of The Incredible Hulk from HotCelebsHome, Stella McCartney (with Kate Moss) from Style.com

What Would Arwen Wear?

Liv Tyler makes heavy silvery-smoky eye shadow appear like the prettiest thing ever, and I'm usually not a fan of this look. Since she's the face of Givenchy cosmetics, this might have been done with their Shadow Show in Stylish Grey and Star Diamond (and a good blending brush), but I think it can also be achieved using the Les Argents 46 eye shadow trio from Bourjois. It almost makes me want to try it. Another thing I love about Liv's makeup is the real color of her skin and of her lips. No orange face and weird fake nude lipstick.


Her blue Stella McCartney dress is another matter, though. I don't know if it's the fabric or the cut, but the result is less than flattering. I also don't like the way it hemmed. It's almost like someone did a quick and careless job adjusting the original dress you see below on Stella herself (from the NY Costume Institute party last month) to the shorter length. Not that I liked it all that much on Stella, either.


What do you think?

Images: Liv Tyler at the L.A. premier of The Incredible Hulk from HotCelebsHome, Stella McCartney (with Kate Moss) from Style.com